Sewing-machine loop-taker.



SEWING MACHINE LOOP TAKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2. I91].

' 2 5HEETSSHEET l.

' mm/ro/w I I Patented Aug. 10,1915.

WITNESSES.

A TTOR/VEY P. DIEHL & M. HEMLE B.

SEWING MACHINE LOOP TAKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1911.

LM9 504. Patented Aug. 10,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

PHILIP DIEI-IL AND MARTIN HEMLEB, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TOJiES PA FIQEQ THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

SEWING-MACHINE LOOP-TAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Application filed July 12, 1911. Serial No. 638,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PHILIP DIEHL and MARTIN HEMLEB, citizens; of theUnited States, residingat Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSewing-Machine Loop-Takers, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This inventlon relates to an improvement in stltch-formmg mechanismcomprlsing a reciprocating needle and a circularly mov ing loop-takercarrying a lower thread, and particularly to a speclal construction fora loop-taker of thls class havlng continuous or reciprocatory rotarymovements. and

formed with a thread-cavity in which is journaled a stationarythread-case and provided with a beak adapted to seize a threadloop fromthe needle to distend the same so as to carry one limb thereof behindthe thread-case where it is temporarily detained while the other limb ofthe loop is cast over the outer face of the thread-case'after which theloop is released to be drawn up to the work with the lower thread whichit is caused to embrace in producing a lockstitch. Heretofore, it hasbeen customary to form that part of the loop-taker adjacent the beakwith a forwardly and inwardly inclined cast-off portion upon which theforward limb of the needle-thread loop is led from the throat or base ofthe beak intermediate the forward and rearward faces of the loop-takerfrom which position it has been caused to slip from 'the cast-oifportion over the forward face of the threadcase in the loop-castingoperation produced by the rotation of the loop-taker. The castotfportion referred to served to'supplement the partial distention in anaxial direction of the thread-loop not fully effected by the beakitself. While the provision of the loop-taker with a cast-off portionfor the purpose described has been efiective under certain conditions,it has frequently caused defects in the work through the breaking ofthread or the leaving of loose thread-loops upon the under side of thework in cases wherein a more or less sticky needle-thread is employed orwherein the surface; of the loop-taker has contained particles of dustor dirt through temporary disuse, or other causes not infrequently metwith.

lhe present invention has for its primary object to produce a loop-takerwhich manipulates the needle-thread loop in a practically positivemanner during vthe seizingand the casting .of the same around the massof lower thread, and preferably maintains 'the same completely undercontrol between such period and the point of final release whereby it iscaused to embrace the lower thread in the production of a lock-stitch.

In the preferred embodiment of the present improvement the loop-takercomprises a stationary thread-case formed with a peripheral bearing ribcut away on one side of the same to produce opposed and spacedloop-arresting and loop-detaining shoulders, in COIlJHIlCtlOIl with arotary loop-seizing member or hook-ring formed with an axial edgeextending from the forward extremity of said throat at an inclination tothe axis of the hook-ring, serves to carry the other limb of said loopacross the front face of -the thread-case to be subsequently drawn uparound the lower thread to the lower face of the work by means of thetake-up.

The hook-ring preferably has at its heel, overlying the bearing rib ofthe threadcase, a flange formed with an inwardly extending pointdirected toward and spaced from the beak at a distance substantially thesame as the spacing apart of said looparresting and loop-detainingshoulders of the thread-case and cooperating with the loopdetainingshoulder in retaining the threadloop drawn off the beak by the action ofthe take-up until its size is sufliciently reduced to prevent kinking orentangling at a point substantially at or near the loop-seizingposition.

The loop-taking member or hook-ring is preferably fixed upon a rotaryshaft to which are imparted two rotations for each reciprocation of theneedle, so that one excursion of the loop-taking member is performedwhile the needle is-above the work and thread-loops are therefore seizedonly during alternate rotations Means are provided for holding thethread-case against participating in the rotary movements of theloop-taking member.

The beak of the loop-seizing. member is preferablyarranged in a planesubstantially parallel with the face of the latter and in tangentialrelation with its circular path of movement, whereby when the limb ofthe thread-loop resting in its throat has been carried slightly beyondthe diameter embracing the loop-seizing position, the beak will have aslight upward inclination which will subsequently increase as theoperative movement progresses, so that the take-up may begin itsoperation in drawing up the loop practically as soon as the latter hasreached its condition of greatest distention by the loop-taker in theloop-casting operation. This is a matter of considerable importance, asit insures a very close conformity between the rate of loop delivery ofthe loop-seizing member and the -loopdrawing action of a form ofstitch-setting mechanism .known as the link take-up forming the subjectof the United States patent to Philip Diehl No. 462,398, dated November3, 189.1, in which the take-up arm receives one reciprocatory movementfor each reciprocation of the needle. By the use of the vibratorytake-up referred to, and by timing it to begin-its action atsubstantially the instant that the throat of the looptaking member is atthe greatest distance from the loop-seizing point, the thread-loop isdrawn off the beak at a rate slightly in excess of the speed of thelatter but is steadied by the somewhat less swiftly moving beak untilits size is materially reduced, but after complete disengagementtherefrom it is still confined between the body of the thread-case andthe loop-taking member un til the hooked end of the flange at the heelof the latter recedes from the detaining shoulder of, the bearing rib,when its size is sufiiciently reduced to insure'against kinking orknotting in the final drawing upand setting of the loop in the lowerface of the work.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are perspective viewsrepresenting the loop-taker with its active or loop-seizing member indifferent positions relative to the thread-case, Fig. 1 showing theneedle delivering a thread-loop to the loop-taker. Fig. 5 is a side viewand Fig. 6 a face view of the loop-seizing member or hook-ring, and Fig.7 is a perspective view of the part of the thread-case having therib-and-groove connection with the hookring. Fig. 8 is aperspective viewshowing the operative parts of a sewing machine embodying the presentimprovement, with the frame represented in dotted lines.

As shown in the drawings, the present improvement is designed moreparticularly for embodiment in the Singer revolving hook machinerepresentedin the patent of Henry J. Cox, No. 1,062,696, dated May 27,1913, although adapted for other machines of this general type.

Theloop-seizing member or hook-ring is shown formed with a circular body1 connected by means of the radial arms 2 with the hub 3 which is inpractice fixed upon the forward end of the rotary loop-taker shaft. Thebody 1 is formed with the usual axial thread-cavity having near theforward edge of its inner wall the annular groove 4 closed on the frontside of the loop-taker by the overhanging lip or flange 5 of a segmentalplate 6 removably secured by screws 7 to the body portion 1, whichlatter is cut away on one side adjacent said plate to form theloop-seizing beak 8 having the point 9 at the forward edge from whichextends backwardly and inwardly across the groove 4 the inclinedloop-deflecting edge 10. The forward edge of the beak is preferablydisposed in a plane transverse to the axis of the looptaker and isprovided near the point with the needle-clearance recess 11.

The beak is disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the axis ofthe looptaker and extends inwardly from the circumference insubstantially tangential relation with the thread cavity, or the circleof rotation, being nearer to the axis at its body than either at itsbase or point which are substantially equidistant therefrom, andoverlying the beak and spaced therefrom is the loop-deflector 12affording at its junction with the base of the beak the throat 13disposed nearly parallel with the axis. As represented in the drawings,the rearward edge 14 of the deflector extends from the rearward end ofthe throat at the same inclination as the loop-deflecting edge 10 of thebeak, while its forward edge, extending from the front end of the throatcrosswise of the edge 10 is reversely inclined backwardly to a positionaxially intermediate the point and throat of the beak. The throat isthus closed laterally throughout its length so as to securely confinewithin it the forward limb of a needle-thread loop entered by the beak,while the forward operative edge 15 of the deflector serves, in

case.

.the forward extremity of the throat where it is retained at the extremeforward edge of the loop-seizing member during the loopcastingoperation. In other words, the

spreading edge 10 spreads the loop toward the rear while the deflectingsurface 15 defiects it to the forward corner or throat of the triangularbeak and over the opposite ends of the thread-case. The flange or lip 5is formed at its adjacent extremity or heel with an inwardly extendingloop-detaining point directed substantially toward the beak and-havingan inclined edge 5 overhanging and in angular relationwiththe groove 4for a purpose to be later described. The wall of the groove 4 nearestthe bottom of the thread-cavity affords an annular threadcase supportingshoulder by means of which the thread-case is sustained free fromcontact with the bottom of its surrounding cavity, and crosswise of thisshoulder extends the loop-deflecting edge 10 of Y the beak 8. Disposedsubstantially in the plane of said shoulder, as represented in Fig. 5,is the point of the loop-deflector 12 whose loop-engaging or operativeedge 15 is inclined forwardly therefrom.

The forward edge of the loop-seizing member is formed beyond the throat13 relative to the beak with a pull-off flange having the operative edge16 inclined to the plane of movement of the beak. I

The thread-case is shown formed of two separable parts which, forconvenience, may be termed respectively the carrier and the The carrieris constructed with the annular body 17 provided at its rearward endwith the cross-bar 18 sustaining the axially disposed pin or post 19,formed with the annular notch or neck 20 adjacent its rounded forwardextremity 21, and it is provided externally with the annular bearingtongue or rib 22 fitted to the groove 4 of the hook-ring and formed atintervals with,

I the thread-clearance notches 23. At the forward end the wall of thecarrier is extended forwardly to form a tongue 24 having a tapered andoutwardly bent extension 25 provided in its forward extremity with theparallel sided notch 26 to admit the holder for restraining the carrieragainst rotation with the loop-seizing member. One edge 27 of theextension 25 lies in front of and is inclinedto the plane'of movement ofthe loop-seizing beak and also to its path of movement adjacent theretoin said plane; and a forwardly extending lug 28 is provided upon theextension 25 adjacent the thread-deflecting edge27 and at the margin ofthe notch 26. The bearing .rib 22 is cut away adjacent the tongue 24 toform a J slightly undercut loop-arresting shoulder 22 disposed inopposition to the loop-seizing beak and arranged at substantially thebase of the tongue 24, and an opposed loopdetaining shoulder 22substantiallv in register with the notch 26 in the lug 25 entered by theneedle in delivering its thread-loops to the loop-taker, the spacing ofthe looparresting and loop-detaining shoulders being siibstantially thesame as the spacing of the point of the beak from the loop-detainingpoint at the heel of the loop-taker.

The case 29 inclosing the bobbin is formed with a cylindrical bodyclosed at its forward end and is in practice provided with a tubularaxial post fitted upon the support-- ing pin 19 of the carrier as abearing and upon which is mounted the bobbin carrying the mass of lowerthread. This case. is preferably constructed as shown and described inour Patent No. 1,125,669, dated January 19, 1915, being provided with alatch-plate 30 by means of which it is detachably confined upon the post19, and provided with the tension-spring 31 overlying its forward faceand formed with the thread-delivery notch or aperture .32 from whichthe. bobbin-thread is led upwardly over the deflectingkedge 27 of thecarrier-lug 25.

eferring now more partlcularly to Fig. 8, the frame comprises thebed-plate 33 with overhanging bracketarm 34 in which is journaled themainor needle-driving shaft 35 carrying at its rearward end the drivingpullev 36 and adjacent the same, within the vhollo w standard of thebracket-arm, the pinpulley 37 embraced by the flexible perforated belt38, which-is shown crossed and encircling the smaller pin-pulley 39fixed upon the rearward end of the loop-taker shg 1 f t 40 journaledbeneath the bed-plate of the machine and receiving two rotations foreach single rotation of the main-shaft 35. The

hub 3 of the hook-ring is'fixed upon the fora mg needle-bar 44 suitablyjournaled in the head'of the bracket-arm and having fixed thereon thecollar 45 carrying the lateral stud 46 which is embraced by a boss atone end of the pitman 47 whose opposite end embraces the crank-pin 48 ofa block 49 at the outer end of the take-up crank-pin 50 which is fixedin the crank-plate 51 upon the forward end of the main-shaft 35;

The crank-pin 50 is embraced by the lower end of a link 52 connected bymeans of the &

pivotal pin 53 with the free end of a swing ing arm 54 having'at itsother end a boss fitted upon the stationary fulcrum-pin. 55 which isfixed in the head of the bracketarm. The link 52'is provided at itsupper end with the forwardly extending take-up arm 56 having thethread-eye 56 which is thus offset from the pivotal connections of saidlink with the actuating crank-pin and the swinging arm 54. As indicatedin the drawing, the needle-actuating crank-pin 48 has a rigid connectionwith the take-up crank-pin 50, but is set slightly in advance of thesame relative to the direction of rotation and the fulcrum-pin 56 isdisposed above and rearward of the mainsshaft, the arrangement of theparts being such that the take-up is caused to begin its descentsubstantially simultaneously with the needle and gives up slack afterthe needle begins to rise sufficiently to permit the required distentionof the thread-loop by the looptaker in the loop-casting operation, andat the completion of the latter gradually draws the distended loop fromthe beak of the loop-taker which latter follows the loop for a timeduring the succeeding portion of its revolution to prevent kinking asthe loop is reduced in size in being drawn up to the work.

The feeding mechanism is of well-known construction, and comprises thefeed-dog 57 working through the usual apertures-58 .in the throat-plate59 and secured upon the feed-bar 60 pivotally connected at its rearwardend with the upwardly extending feedrocker 61 of the rock-shaft 62having the lateral arm 63 pivotally connected with the lower end of thelink-bar 64 forked at its upper'end to embrace the actuating eccentric65 upon the main-shaft, the link-bar being sustained by a pivotalconnection with the swinging link 66 journaled upon the ful crum-stud 67carried by the feed-regulating bellcrank lever 68 mounted upon the fixedstud 68 The opposite end of the feed-bar has a sliding and pivotalconnection with a lateral crank-arm 69 of the feed-lifting rock-shaft 70carrying the lateral arm 71 pivotally connected with the lower end ofthe pitman 72 having at its opposite end the strap 73 embracing a crankupon 'the main-shaft.

Opposed to the feed-dog is the usual presser-foot 74 attached to thespringpressed presser-bar 75. p

The machine is rovided with the usual needle-thread tension device 76through which the thread is led from the guide-eye 77 and thence beneaththe check-spring 78 and under the compensator-arm 79 carried by thepresser-bar, through the eye 56" of the take-up arm 56 to theneedle-eye.

In the operation of the machine, the needle descends and as it begins torise presentsaloop of needle-thread a which is entered by the point ofthe loop-taker, as represented in Fig. 1, the lower thread I) leadingfrom'the face of the thread-case to the need1e-hole 59 of thethroat-plate being maintained out of the pathof the looptaker beak bythe edge 27 of the lug 25 against which it rests. As the member 1continues its loop-casting movement, the needle-thread loop is thrustbackwardly by the action of the deflecting edge 10 of the loop-takerbeak for engagement of the in.- ner limb a with the loop-arrestingshoulder 22* of the thread-case, and the outer limb a of said loop ispositively thrust forwardly by the deflector 12 whose base confines itwithin the throat 13 to cause it to lead from the forward extremity ofthe latter across the edge of the loop-taker to the needle-hole, asrepresented in Fig. 2. In completing its semi-rotation from theloopseizing. position, the loop-taker carries the forward limb of thethread-loop over the front face of the thread-case to the positionrepresented in'Fig. 3, wherein the takeup begins its thread-drawingmovement which is continued at such a speed that the reduction in thesize of the distended thread-loop causes the latter to be drawngradually from the loop-taker beak but not wholly disengaged therefromuntil the point of the beak has traversed nearly a quarterclrcumferencefrom its extreme lower eastoff position. At this time theneedle-thread loop, greatly reduced in size, freely embraces the upperportion of the cast-off side of the thread-case, being. confined by thebearlng rib '22 and the overlapping flange 5 of the loop-seizing member.As the looptaker beak has a flat outer face extending throughout itslength and inwardly from the periphery of the body portion, as beforeexplained, the thread-engaging portion .of the loop-taker becomesupwardly inclined at the throat before the loop-taker completes asemi-rotation from loop-seizing position,- so as to permit, with the aidof the take-up, an early cast-off of the needlethread loop lying in thethroat, as represented in Fig. 3. By making the throat 13 substantiallyparallel with the axis of the loop-taker, the thread-loops are carriedforcibly around'the thread-case and are not permitted to roll thereon aswould be the case if the throat were at an inclination to the axis as inprevious constructions. This arrangement of the loop-taker throatobviously contributes also to the early castofi" in insuring themovement of both limbs of the loop simultaneously into cast-offposition. The drawing up of the loop continues until the heel of theloop-seizing member arrives at substantially the loopseizing position,wherein the point 5 of the flange 5 overlies the extremity of thethreadcase flange 22, the thread-loop being at such instant, asrepresented in Fig. 4:, confined between the inner edge of the flange 5and the detaining shoulder 22 with its forward limb resting upon theinclined edge 5 of the flange 5 and thence extending forwardly beneaththe feed-dog and upwardly through the needle-hole. The continuedmovement of the loop-seizing member 1 produces the separation of theshoulders 5 and 22 and the release of the thread-loop which is now,owing to the elasticity of the thread, too small to kink in the finalstitch-setting action which is promptly concluded. As described in oursaid Patent No. 1,125,669, the thread-deflecting edge 27 of the notchedflange 25 extends in front of and-at an inclination to the plane ofmovement of the point of the loop-seizing beak and also to the path ofcircular movement of the latter within said plane, so as to insure thatthe lead of the thread from the delivery aperture 32'of the tensionspring on the face of the thread-case to the needle-hole in thethroat-plate shall be out of the path of movement of the point of theloop-taker. As the drawing up of the needle-thread loop around the lowerthread leading into the needle-hole tends to draw the lower threadlaterally into the notch 26 and thus out of engagement with theoperative edge 27 of the flange 25, the latter is formed with the lug 28which serves to prevent the lateral displacement of the lower thread andto prevent its entrance into the notch 26 for a more direct lead to theneedle-hole so as to be caught by the point of the beak at the beginningof its idle rotation.

While we have shown and described herein what we consider the best formof the present improvement, it is to be understood that its componentnovel features are not required to be all associated together incarrying out the invention nor to be con- 7 structed preciselyasdisclosed herein, so 1on as they embody the described principles ofoperation to produce the results aimed at.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, whatwe claim hereinis 1. A sewing machine loop-taker comprising a rotary loop-seizingmember formed with an axial thread-cavity and having a beak with itsthroat disposed substantially parallel with the axis and extended to theextreme forward edge of said member, said beak being formed with aloop-distending portion extending backwardly from said ext'remeforwardedge, a thread-case journaled within said thread-cavity and spaced fromthe rearward extremity thereof, and means for forcibly deflecting theexternal limb of a thread-loop entered by said beak into the forwardextremity of the throat of the latter.

2. A sewing machine loop-taker comprisheel a flange overlying the rib off said thread-case and formed with an inwardly extending point directedtoward and spaced from said beak a distance substantially the same asthespacing apart of said loop-arresting and loop-detaining shoulders ofthe thread-case.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocating needle, ofa loop-taker comprising a rotary loop-seizing member provided with abeak having its loop-seizing point at the forward edge of said member,and a thread-case comprisinga carrier journaled within and supported bythe loop-seizing member and provided with a flange having a notchembracing the needle-path and an adjacent thread-engaging lug, saidflange having adjacent said notch a thread-deflecting edge extending inadvance of and inclined to the plane of movement of the loopseizing beakand also to the path of circular movement of the latter within saidplane, and a removable case sustained by said carrier and having athread-delivery aperture intermediate the plane of circular movement ofthe loop-seizing beak and the extremity of the thread-deflecting edge ofsaid flange in front ,of said plane.

4. A sewing machine loop-seizing member constructed with a circular bodycontaining an axial thread-cavity provided with means for sustaining athread-case free from contact with its rearward end and having a beakwith a flat outer face parallel throughout its length with a planeembracing the axis of said body and formed with an inclined rearwardlyextending loopdistending edge and a deflector having an operative edgeextending from a position at the inclined edge of the beakintermediatethe point and base thereof.

5. A sewing machine loop-seizing member constructed with a circular bodycontaining an axial thread cavity provided upon its inner side-wallintermediate" the ends with an annular shoulder for sustaining athread-case free from contact with its rearward end and having a beakwith both point and base at the extreme forward edge of the body andwith an inclined loopdistending edge crossing said thread-casesustainingshoulder and a deflector overlying and spaced from said beak and formingtherewith a throat parallel with said axis and provided with anoperative edge extending from a position at the inclined edge of thebeak intermediate the point and base thereof to the forward extremity ofsaid throat.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscrlblng Witnesses.

PHILIP DIEHL. MARTIN HEMLER.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. MILLER, HENRY A. KORNEMANN, J r.

